Victory

"Sentencing starting points for fentanyl supply will increase from three years to six, and in most cases even higher. Dealers who secretly add this poison to their product will think twice about doing it again.

"I am delighted for poor Robert’s mum, Michelle Parry who has been so brave. She knows it won’t bring her boy back, but it will save many other young lives. He would be incredibly proud."

Charlie Elphicke and Michelle Parry

Justice minister Rory Stewart announced Robert's Law, saying: "I really want to pay tribute to the honorable member for Dover and Deal.

"His leadership and his championing led to two very important changes which I can honestly say would not have happened so rapidly had it not been for his work.

'This is just the beginning'

"The first change has been that the Crown Prosecution Service has now specified for prosecutors that in dealing with cases of fentanyl, they need to take into account the potency of this drug and they are encouraged to bring in expert witnesses into the court room in order to explain how this drug operates and how a tiny quantity of this drug can have the potency of heroin or cocaine in a larger quantity.

"The second thing that has happened - which is perhaps more important - is the sentencing council has now published yesterday its new guidelines which state example supply or offering to supply a controlled drug.

"If the quantity of the drug would cause as much harm as 5kg of heroin the offence will be in the most serious category.

"This now moves the expert witness to state that fentanyl will be in the top category of class A drugs for prosecution. This is going to be absolutely vital.

"It's going to be vital in deterring people from supplying these drugs. It's going to be vital in deterring people from importing these drugs.

"But this is just the beginning of what will happen because the tragic death of Robert has led to a very significant campaign led by Robert's family and by the honorable member which has already changed the guidelines for the crown prosecution service and the sentencing council."

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